I'm planning 2 or 3 nights wild camping in Dartmoor. I've looked at the camping advice on the Dartmoor website and there is a map that displays areas where you can wild camp in purple. Has anyone here ever wild camped out side the purple areas? If I do so would I be likely to be told to move on by a ranger?
P.S I am an avid believer in leave NO Trace when camping and know to avoid firing ranges.
I am not really afamiliar with the area - but as NP land rarely belongs to the NP and usually belongs to a farmer/land owner/occupier, the NP Ranger may be the least of your problems.....
I have camped in many of the grey and red access areas...
Like you I try to leave no trace and am discreet.
You may be asked to move on by a landowner/commoner if spotted. It has only happened to me on Spitchwick common (Dart Valley), and this has been regularly enforced in recent years (if caught!) due to some campers having inappropriate large fires and damaging trees - using up deadwood (habitat)
FYI the large red access area on the South side of the Plym valley is National Trust land, and I was informed last year that they have relaxed their byelaws to allow wildcamping in this area (The map is dated 2009)
In my experience, you are unlikely to see a Dartmoor ranger very far from his/her landrover ....
It's my first time in the Moor so I think I'll just stick to the purple areas, which in all fairness are massive! Cheers for your advice guys. Now I just need to decide whether I go Tarp or Tent...I may wait for the weather forecast!
I camp or bivi all over the moor - completely regardless of the above map. I am discrete and low profile and have never had a problem. Mole's right - rangers don't have time to be wandering out into the hinterland at the sort of times you're likely to be there - assuming you move on in the morning?
An ex ranger mate told me he'd be far more likely to move someone on - and feel obliged to move someone on - if they were not discrete. A bright red tent pitched where it shouldn't be is just asking for trouble and hard for a ranger to 'overlook'. He'd not be doing his job, obviously, whereas one that blends in could be, perhaps, ignored.
And yes, I know some here love their bright tents, jackets etc, but they're not for me. One day I may regret my own policy, but that's a risk I'm very happy with.
So my advice is to go where you'd like to go, and leave no trace. And enjoy the place - it's magic!
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